Property Tax Abatement
A Utah permanent place-of-residence property tax exemption equivalent to the military service-connected disability rating percentage is provided for disabled veterans or for their unremarried widows or minor orphans. Veteran’s disability rating must be at least 10%. The maximum property tax exemption, rated at 100% military service-connected disability, is $219,164 . To figure out how much your tax abatement will be multiply your percentage of disability by 219,164 . Example: 10% disability X 219,164 = $21,426.30 tax abatement. This amount is then subtracted from the taxable value of the property and taxes are paid on the remaining amount. To apply for Utah Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption, request VA Form 20-5455 from U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) at 1-800-827-1000, then file VA Form 20-5455, along with a copy of the veteran’s U.S. Military active duty release/discharge certificate or other satisfactory evidence of eligible military service, and the tax exemption application, on or before September 1st, to the applicable county treasurer, tax assessor or clerk/recorder located in the county courthouse or county government building of each county seat. All property must be on record as of January 1st of the year you wish to file. However, a recent change allows qualified widows and orphans an exemption to that rule. NOTE: Effective January 1, 2008 disabled veterans will only be required to file for property tax abatement one time. After the initial filing it will automatically renew each year. However, veterans will have to re-file if all or a portion of their abatement is used towards tangible personal property, if their service-connected disability percentage changes, the veteran dies, sales the property or no longer claims that property as their primary place of residence. (Utah Code 59-2-1104 & 1105)

Drivers License Priveleges
Driver licenses possessed by persons on U.S. military active duty shall be valid 90 days after active duty discharge, unless driver licenses are suspended or revoked for cause by a police department or other judicial entity. (Utah Code Vol 2, Section 41).

Veterans License Plates
Utah veterans license plates may be purchased from any DMV for an initial $25.00 contribution to the Utah State Department of Veterans Affairs plus a $10.00 plate transfer fee, in addition to normal vehicle registration and property tax fees. There will also be a yearly $15.00 renewal fee. Proceeds from the sale and renewal of these plates help fund veteran programs within the state. Utah veteran’s license plates display colored decal emblems of the U.S. military branch in which served (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Marines as well as the American Legion) and are further inscribed “UTAH HONORS VETERANS”. Utah special group license plates for Purple Heart recipients, Pearl Harbor Survivors or former POW’s are exempt of application and renewal fees: however, regular registration and property tax fees still must be paid. Proper evidence to present for special group plates includes Military Order of the Purple Heart or Pearl Harbor Survivors Association membership cards, or DD-214 (& equivalent WD AGO 5355) military discharge certificates. A “Disabled Veteran” plate is also available for Veterans with a service-connected disability. This plate has a one-time $15 fee and no additional renewal fees. Military documentation or VA form 20-5455 must be presented to prove eligibility for this plate. NOTE: This Plate does not qualify for disabled parking privileges. You need not wait until renewal time to purchase the license plates. (Utah Code Vol 2 Section 41: Utah State Tax Commission/Motor Vehicle regulations).

Disabled License Plates/Windshield Placards
Disabled license plates having the blue & white international symbol of accessibility decal may be obtained by submitting a TC 842 application form, accompanied by a certification from a licensed physician stating: (1) the disability limits or impairs ability to walk as defined in the 1991 Federal Uniform System for Handicapped Parking, and (2) the time period the physician determines the disability will continue. Disabled veterans applying for Utah disability license plates should note that veteran disability letters from the VA Regional Office are not acceptable evidence to Tax Commission/Motor Vehicle offices. However, licensed physician certifications by VA doctors are acceptable evidence, provided the following is stated in the letter: (1) the disability limits or impairs ability to walk as defined in the 1991 Federal Uniform System for Handicapped Parking, and (2) the time period the physician determines the disability will continue. Normal fees for plate transfer, registration, and property taxes still must be paid upon initial application and renewal of disability license plates. Upon request, one additional disability windshield placard may be issued to disabled persons applying for or already possessing disability special group license plates. For more information, telephone toll-free 800-DMV-UTAH. (Utah Code vol 2 Section 41).

Veterans Job Preference
Eligible veterans or un-remarried spouses are granted either 5 or 10 points, as applicable, for employment preference, added to the results of any written &/or oral exam or other related qualifying technique, by any Utah government entity (state, county, municipality, special district or other political subdivision or administration.) The U.S. Dept. of Labor will protect the veteran’s rights to the Veterans Job Preference. (Utah Code Vol 3, Section 71).

Veterans Hiring Priority
:Any officers, agents or representatives of the state, or any contractor performing work for Utah state government, who willfully fails to hire a military veteran shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (Utah Code Vol 3, Section 71).

Military Leave
Utah state, county or municipal government employees, who are members of the organized reserve/ national guard, are allowed full pay* for 15 days of military leave per year for annual military encampment. Military leave is in addition to and distinguished from annual accrued vacation leave with pay. (Utah Code Vol 3 Section 67 & USERRA federal Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act.) *Some exceptions apply; see local Human Resources Rep for details.

Utah State Department of Veterans Affairs
The Utah State Department of Veterans Affairs islocated at 550 Foothill Dr. Suite #202, Salt Lake City, Utah 84113 (the corner of Wasatch & Foothill) on the VA Medical Center Campus. The mission of the office is to provide counsel, assist veterans and their dependents with VA claims processing, establish veterans’ rights to state and federal benefits and to provide information and advisory services. Veteran service officers under contract provide an outreach assistance program to rural Utah veterans, in conjunction with the Utah State Department of Veterans Affairs. U.S. active duty military service discharge certificates (DD-214’s) are on file in the office for veterans discharged after 1980, and some records for WWII and Korean era veterans. DD-214’s are only on file for veterans with Utah residency or with a Utah forwarding address at the time of release from active duty. DD-214 certified copies are provided free of charge; toll free 1-800-894-9497. The Utah National Guard Headquarters in Draper Utah maintains file copies of National Guard Bureau record of separation certificates (NGB 22’s) for completed service in the Utah Army National Guard & Utah Air National Guard (1950-present). NGB 22 certified copies are free of charge; phone 801-523-4534. (Utah Code Vol 1, Section 17 & Vol 3, Section 71).

Utah State Veterans Nursing Home
The first Utah State Veterans Nursing Home, located on the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center Campus, phone 801-584-1900; fax 801-584-1960, address, 700 Foothill Drive, SLC, UT. 84113-1104, was dedicated on 22 April 1998 and became operational in May 1998. Quality nursing and health care services are provided for Utah veterans with U.S. military service during peacetime or wartime. While wartime service is not a requirement for admission to the nursing home, wartime veterans with one day or more of wartime service, as recognized by state and federal laws, have top priority. A veteran’s spouse or surviving spouse may also qualify for admittance to the Utah State Veterans Nursing Home, providing the marriage to the veteran occurred at least one year before the application. (Utah Code Vol 2, Section 26). Note: The Utah Legislature has appriopiated $19.7 million to construct a Veterans nursing home in Ogden. Ground breaking will be summer 2008.

Free Use of Armories
Organizations of war veterans are entitled to have free use of state of Utah armories as meeting places, provided such use shall not interfere with the use of armories by the National Guard or organized militia of Utah. (Utah Code Vol 3, Section 71).

Utah State Veterans Cemetary & Memorial Park
Located at 17111 Camp Williams Road in Bluffdale, phone number, (801) 254-9036, fax number (801) 254-5756. This states veteran’s cemetery generally follows the eligibility requirements of VA National Cemetery System, including: any U.S. Armed Forces active personnel dying while performing duty or after having served during wartime. Reservist and National Guard retired personnel with 20 years of service are eligible for burial also. Surviving spouses and dependent children also are eligible to be buried in the Utah State Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park, under rules established by the state of Utah. (Utah Code Vol 3, Section 71).

FREE USE OF ARMORIES:
Organizations of war veterans are entitled to have free use of state of Utah armories as meeting places, provided such use should not interfere with the use of armories by the National Guard or organized militia of Utah. (Utah Code Vol 3, Section 71).

Special Fun Tags
Allow free admission to most of the 41 state-controlled parks, campgrounds and other recreation areas throughout Utah. These are free of charge to disabled veterans & other disabled persons. The Utah Special Fun Tags also allows a $2.00 off, camping fee discount Monday through Thursday, excluding holidays. Utah Special Fun Tags are available to disabled veterans upon application to the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation, along with a VA letter documenting 10% or greater military service-connected disability rating. Please call the State Parks and Recreation office at (801) 538-7220 to have an application mailed to you or log on to www.stateparks.utah.gov to download an application (Utah Code Vol 1, Section 23).

Golden Access Passport
A lifetime entrance pass to most national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and national wildlife refuges that charge an entrance fee. The Golden Access Passport admits the pass holder and any accompanying passengers in a private vehicle. Where entry is not by private vehicle, the passport admits the pass holder, spouse, and children. The Golden Access Passport MAY also provides a 50% discount on federal use fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, and cave tours. It does not cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessionaires. A GoldenAccess Passport must be obtained in person at any federal area where an entrance fee is charged or at one of the agencies administering the Golden Access Passport. It is available to citizens or permanent residents of the United States who are medically determined to be blind or permanently disabled. Veterans may obtain a passport by showing proof of a medically determined permanent disability or eligibility for receiving benefits under federal law. A letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs stating the veteran’s disability rating will suffice. Agencies administering the Golden Access Passport are Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, and Forest Service.

Valor House
Located on the campus of the VA Hospital, in Salt Lake City, UT, the Valor House provides transitional housing to homeless veterans for up to two years. There are a total of 60 beds available. For more information regarding this program, please contact Rich Landward at (801) 582-1565 ext. 2703 or 1-800-613-4012 ext. 2703.

Veterans Upward Bound
VUB is funded by the Department of Education and sponsored by Weber State University. VUB provides a valuable service by assisting veterans in obtaining admission to post- secondary schools. Instruction and tutoring are provided free of charge to veterans in math, English and basic computer applications. The services are provided to veterans in Salt Lake, Davis and Weber Counties. For more information, please contact Jim Kopecky at 801-626-7173

Outreach Services
The Utah Department of Veterans Affairs, through contracts with service officers from local Veterans Service Organizations, provides assistance and information to veterans and their families in filing claims for VA or other veterans’ related benefits. The service officers travel the state on a monthly basis meeting with veterans, who are unable to travel to Salt Lake City, at various Department of Workforce Services locations throughout the state. For a schedule call 1-800-894-9497.

Attention Purple Heart Recipients
Utah public institutions of higher learning are required to waive the tuition of a Utah resident admitted to an undergraduate program of study leading to a degree or certificate, if the student is a recipient of a Purple Heart. Recent changes have expanded this benefit to include a Masters Degree.

Scott B Lundell Tuition Waiver For Military Members’ Surviving Dependents. This Bill waives the undergraduate tuition at state institutions of higher education for surviving dependents of Utah resident military members killed in the line of duty after 9/11/2001. The waiver in this section does not apply to fees, books, or housing expenses. The Utah Department of Veterans Affairs is the administering agency for this benefit. Call 1-800-894-9497 or (801) 326-2372 for information on how to use this benefit.

General Information
The Veterans Administration Regional Office (VARO) is located on the campus of the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City, UT. The address to the VARO is 550 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84158. You can contact the VA by calling 1-800-827-1000.

The Salt Lake City "Vet Center" is located at 1354 E. 3300 S., SLC, UT. They can be reached at 801-584-1294, or toll free from within Utah at 1-800-613-4012 ext. 1294.
The Salt Lake Vet Center has a new program called the “Global War on Terrorism Outreach Program”. The purpose of this program is to identify returning veterans’ needs and issues, provide information, link vets with agencies that can provide valuable resources and to actively network current clients with other veterans.

The Provo "Vet Center" is located at 750 N. 200 W., Provo, UT. They can be reached at 801-377-1117 or toll free from within Utah at 1-800-246-1197.

Both centers provide counseling and referral services especially designed for “wartime” veterans. They also provide an extensive outreach program aimed at helping the men and women who proudly served our country.|TOP|

Homeless Veterans Fellowship
The Homeless Veterans Fellowship is located at 541 23rd St., Ogden, UT. They can be reached at 801-392-7662. HVF provides transitional housing for up to eighteen months for veterans. They can also provide emergency food bags and personal hygiene items. Coffee and donuts provided during open hours.

Honorary High School Diploma
Veterans from WWII, Korea and Vietnam who left High School for military service are eligible to receive Honorary High School Diplomas from the school they left. Contact the local school district for information on how to receive the diploma.